Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 22nd April 2024 |
Latest comedy news
Ian Smith Is Stressed arriving angst-ridden this summer on Radio 4
Ian Smith has landed his debut Radio 4 series, with Ian Smith Is Stressed inspired by his Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated show Crushing.
The Windsors put "on hold" by Channel 4 after King's cancer diagnosis
The Windsors has been put "on hold" Channel 4 has confirmed to British Comedy Guide, with sensitivities around senior Royals' health reportedly mooted as the reason.
Ivo Graham to publish book about his failures
Ivo Graham is to publish Yardsticks For Failure, a book that takes a "deep dive into the various facepalms" he has experienced in recent years.
Rik Mayall comedy festival planned for Droitwich
The Worcestershire town of Droitwich is planning to launch a comedy festival in 2025, to honour former resident Rik Mayall.
Gary Little: At Large - Radio 4 release for ex-con's jail tales
Gary Little has recorded his first Radio 4 series, Gary Little: At Large, sharing stand-up tales about his life in and out of prison.
Charlie Russell to star in comic play about composer Fanny Mendelssohn
The Play That Goes Wrong star Charlie Russell will take the lead in a comedy play based around the story of 19th century composer and pianist Fanny Mendelssohn.
Harriet Kemsley to tour Everything Always Works Out For Me show
Harriet Kemsley is to take her new stand-up show Everything Always Works Out For Me on a tour, following a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August.
Jimmy Carr working on "The Rosetta Stone Of Comedy" course and book
Jimmy Carr is seeking to teach an online course on the "language" of stand-up, The Rosetta Stone Of Comedy, with an accompanying book to follow.
FYI
Peter Kay 'gutted' after postponing huge Manchester arena shows; Carl Hutchinson releasing stand-up documentary That's The Show; Malala Yousafzai to guest star in We Are Lady Parts Series 2; Sean Foley to step down as artistic director at Birmingham Rep; and Richard Herring drops a bollock and successive audience members.
Features
Comedy Chronicles: Oh yes! - The comic guile of Deryck Guyler
A profile of Deryck Guyler, the comic actor who for much of the Sixties and Seventies on British television was the comic embodiment of the jobsworth.
Win a free table at Dabbers Bingo Comedy Caller Contest
The Dabbers Bingo Comedy Caller Contest is currently taking place in London on Sunday afternoons. You can win a table for up to 8 people via our competition page here.
Jonathan Sayer talks about Mind Mangler
Jonathan Sayer talks to us about his role in the stage show Mind Mangler: Member Of The Tragic Circle.
Ding dong!: Leslie Phillips at 100
A nostalgic, enlightening dive into the life and career of much-loved actor Leslie Phillips, marking the centenary of his birth.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Kathy Maniura
Ahead of the Brighton Fringe, Kathy Maniura talks sexy Airpods, Royal Mile pain and a cycling betrayal.
Consolevania turns 20: Robert Florence and Ryan Macleod on making comedy out of video games
Consolevania, the homemade web series about video games, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Tom Crowley talks to creators Robert Florence and Ryan Macleod about making your own work and staying honest. Continue: Y/N?
British Comedy Quiz #302
This time: The Good Life, One Foot In The Grave, Keeping Up Appearances, and more.
Random 8: Simon Munnery
Batman, Michael Caine, and a canal boat with Coggers: Simon Munnery tales the eight question test.
15 years of Horrible Histories on TV
As Horrible Histories turns 15, executive producer Simon Welton fills us in on what it's like to make the show.
TV listings
Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen
The comic tackles big themes like death, decline and the disappointments of middle age in this stand-up special, which is now on Netflix.
Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains
Jessica Knappett recreates her superhero cello, Katherine Ryan remembers her heart-breaking prom and Gok Wan's teen transformations and fashion faux pas are revisited.
Meet The Richardsons
Lucy makes her mark on Taskmaster and discovers a darker side to fellow contestant Julian Clary. Jon decides to sell out and finds out what it would take to host a lucrative daytime quiz show like Tipping Point with Ben Shephard.
Dinosaur
Evie's hen do in Rothesay isn't going to plan, so Nina asks for help from Lee. Little does she know his arrival will have catastrophic consequences.
QI
Zoe Lyons, Dan Tiernan, Josh Widdicombe and Alan Davies take part in an underground and underwater episode.
Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable
Alex Jones reveals how she got into hot water with the BBC for lying, Iain Stirling spills the beans on being sacked, and Tim Renkow tells all about his mischievous method of evading train fares.
Hold The Front Page
Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe return for a second series of the show in which they work at local newspapers. This episode is in the Isle of Wight, where they report on Cowes Week for the County Press.
Mammoth
Still reeling from the recent news, Tony tries to make up for lost time. He and Theo end up in an altercation with a stranger, and Lucy fights off local oddballs looking to donate to her fertility treatment.
Taskmaster
Steve Pemberton experiments with G-force, Joanne McNally rocks a traffic cone, and Sophie Willan splatters a human pigeon.
Joe & Katherine's Bargain Holidays
A new series in which Joe Wilkinson and Katherine Ryan join forces to "show the Great British public how to have a fantastic holiday for a next-to-nothing price". Episode 1 is in Norfolk.
Horrible Histories
Everything from roads to baths to pies, hosts Emperor Nero and warrior queen Boudicca are here to show what the Romans did while they were here in Britain.
Have I Got News For You
Broadcaster, financial journalist and 'Money Saving Expert' Martin Lewis will host Have I Got News For You for the first time this Friday. The guests are comedian Ignacio Lopez and broadcaster Steph McGovern.
Avoidance
Claire forces Jonathan to lie to her parents about their breakup, a lie that goes way too far. Dan and Courtney both struggle through the pain of an NCT mums and dads' night out.
Late Night Lycett
More live-broadcast fun from Birmingham. Stay tuned to our website to discover this week's guest line-up, when it's announced.
Dinosaur
Nina promises to keep the events of the hen do secret. So, when Bo finds out what went down, a distraught Evie shares some harsh truths with Nina.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
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The Kenny Everett Video ShowErupting onto television during the summer of '78, The Kenny Everett Video Show was an instant ratings grabber, propelling the subversive, impish DJ to the superstardom he had always deserved. Primarily a music show with ever-expanding comic content between the songs, this upcoming DVD reissue is a great chance to delve into his much-loved characters, from Sid Snot to Brother Lee Love and beyond, and experience what was absolute must-see, anarchic television. Sadly there are significant cuts of songs whose owners wouldn't authorise their release, but this set represents all four series and three New Year specials that Kenny made for Thames Television - all in the best possible taste! |
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Meet The HuggettsThe Huggetts dominated the airwaves in the 1950s. For nearly a decade their family capers entertained listeners with the trials and tribulations of everyday life in post-war Britain. An unashamedly working-class family, the Huggetts epitomise the spirit of a united nation relishing simple pleasures with a cheery, down-to-earth smile that also saw them spin-off to three feature film adventures. Sadly only 7 of the 168 era-defining episodes have survived in the archive, and this new digital collection makes them available together for the first time. This light-hearted, feel-good comedy is as fresh and funny as it was when it was first broadcast (1953 - 1961). It's just one of a wide range of wonderful archive comedy titles being released this week - check out another below and click through for many more. |
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Elis James & John Robins - How Do You Cope?Based on their hit BBC podcast, Elis James and John Robins share memorable stories, struggles and strategies around mental health, all to answer the question - 'How Do You Cope?'. The show must go on. What does it mean to worry? How can we deal with loss? When adversity strikes, how do we cope? They've delved deep into their own and others' personal experiences to explore a diverse range of mental health issues, from anxiety and grief to illness, identity and exclusion. Drawing on these rich conversations, along with the help of team of mental health experts, How Do You Cope? is a unique exploration of how we overcome the everyday struggles, as well as the more significant challenges, in our lives. |
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Arthur's WhiskyA coming-of-age story with a twist; a charming, feel-good comedy about living in the moment. Arthur's Whisky follows Joan who, after her husband dies, is shocked to discover he had invented an elixir that makes the drinker look young again. Sharing it with her two friends, the three women paint the town red but soon discover that they are no longer equipped to be young in the modern world. |
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The Arthur Haynes ShowArthur Haynes was the most popular comedian in Britain from the late 1950s. Written by Johnny Speight, his hit TV sketch show ran for 15 series, winning him the Variety Club Award as ITV Personality of 1961, and the following year it was adapted for BBC radio. Included here is a collection of the best surviving radio episodes, featuring the classic comic battles between Haynes and his long-suffering straight man, Nicholas Parsons, plus a stellar supporting cast including Patricia Hayes, Norma Ronald, Barney Gilbraith, Dorothy Dampier, Leslie Noyes and Dermot Kelly. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Taskmaster - Series 17 outtakes - Part 2
Another selection of silliness that ended up on the cutting room floor...
Cassetteboy vs The Apprentice 2024
The video editing experts re-arrange Lord Sugar's words.
An offer you can't understand
The latest sketch from Alasdair Beckett-King. He's the Negotiationist. They say he's the best.
First Dates of History - Vikings
Two famous vikings that are unlucky in love nervously decide to make love not war, as they share battleground stories over a gallon of ale.
Pret A Manger saves UK - Broken News
The troubled British high street is set to be totally saved thanks to fast food giant Pret A Manger.
Comedy Central Live - Harriet Kemsley
Harriet Kemsley on motherhood, cheating, chlamydia, and how cost effective implants can be...
Spotlight
Time Of My Life
Demonstrating physical comedy skill from star Mark Kingston that is second only to Michael Crawford in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, it's sad that this 1980 BBC sitcom remains unreleased and long-forgotten. Running for a single series, it told the misfortunes of Ken Archer, who's unexpectedly made redundant mere hours before his wife (Amanda Barrie) leaves him for a much, much younger man. But these are only the start of his troubles!
Thanks for reading
Jonny King won the BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition on the topic of travel:
I've just booked trips to Versailles, Maastricht and Paris. It was expensive, but you've got to treaty yourself.
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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